Woolwich trophy Vailele sold for about $23 million

Vailele (pronounced 'Vall-a-lay') is named for a plantation in Samoa bordering Robert Louis Stevenson's home there.[1]

Vailele, 2 The Point Road, Woolwich NSW - sold for $23 million

Vailele, the Salter family's Federation residence, is set on 3220 square metres, was built in 1892, and has a waterfront with a private jetty.

The three-storey sandstone house, whose name derives from the Samoan term for running water, has only had five owners.

Vailele is best known for starring in the 1983 mini-series Return to Eden, when it was owned by meat trader Trevor Wadland.

It set a then record high for the exclusive Woolwich peninsula when it last traded in 1993 for $3 million, when bought by the late co-founder of Salmat, Phil Salter and his wife Christine.

A "sold" notice appeared on the property's domain.com.au listing over the recent weekend. Ken Jacobs, of Christie's International, declined to reveal the sale price, confirming only that it sold.

It was listed earlier this year with a guide of $24 million to $26 million. Sources have tipped the price at close to that asking price, but settlement will confirm the exact result.

The sale tops the previous high set by the nearby historic mansion, Bulwarra, sold by Hollywood star Cate Blanchett and her husband Andrew Upton earlier this year for $18 million. It also beats an unfinalised, agreed sale price of $19.8 million for the Blanchett property two years ago.

The historic six-bedroom residence has formal and informal living rooms, a music room, cedar-panelled billiard room, study, home theatre, wine room and wet bar, and a 10-car garage with lift access.

Steeped in history, the home once hosted Scottish novelist Robert Louis Stevenson, who spent some of his latter days in the garden cottage. Two of the garden’s heritage palm trees were gifts from him.

Under its slate roof there are original fireplaces, ornate ceiling roses and stained glass windows, along with intricate turned timber posts on the marble-tiled verandas still intact after a two-year restoration.

The family home has eight bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a study and an elegant music room.

One floor is devoted to a home theatre with integrated seating installed by the current owners, the Salters family.

Vailele, one of Sydney's most tightly held riverfront homes, has been listed for sale by the Salter family.

The historic sandstone home in Woolwich has only had five owners since its 1892 construction.

It last traded for $3 million, when it was 1993's top price on the North Shore water's edge, and before that in 1979 when bought by abattoir owner Trevor Wadland for $375,000.

It is long remembered as the location of scenes from the Network Ten mini-series, Return to Eden, the 1983 television drama starring Rebecca Gilling, James Reyne and Wendy Hughes.

An original sandstone water bubbler and heritage-listed sandstone well have been revived, the latter irrigating the grounds.

Vailele has eight bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a study, an elegant music room.

Its heritage billiard room comes with cedar-panelled walls, domed ceiling and a bar.

It comes with a 10 car garage at the cul-de-sac location, a 3084 sq m estate on the corner of Gale Street and The Point Road.

With climbing roses, lavender, frangipanis and a vegetable patch, the grounds come with an infinity pool and spa, with lit terraces, verandahs, and a gazebo.